Window cleaning device



Oct. 30, 1945. N. E. MILLER WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18

Patented Oct. 30, 1945 wires STATES PATENT OFFKIE WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Nellie E.-Miller, McLean, Va.

Application January 18, 194;, Serial No. 472,773

3 Claims.

This invention relates to window cleaning devices, and more particularly to a devicefor cleaning the outsides of the panes of conventional sliding sashes. 1

.An important object of the present invention is to provide a simple device by which .the outside surfaces of the panes of glass of sliding sashes may be very quickly and easily cleaned by the operation of the device from the inside of the house or other building.

A further object is to provide a very simple type of window cleaning device which may be supported by the upper edge of a sash and having means for vertically reciprocating the cleaning element in engagement with the Window pane, the device being easily manipulated to cause it to move horizontally across the window so that all portions of each pane may be cleaned.

A further object is to provide such a device wherein a cleaning element is engageable against the outside surface of a window pane and is caused to vertically reciprocate by alternately pulling upper and lower flexible elements projecting into the room.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred to which is so constructed that the alternate pulling of the flexible elements and the maintenance of both of such elements under tension results in maintaining the cleaning element under proper pressure against the pane of glass to effectively clean the surface thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a window showing the device in elevation in position to clean the inner and normally lower sash,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the device, parts being broken away, and

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing the numeral It designates the body of the device as a whole which forms a guide in a manner to be referred to, and the body of the device comprises telescoping members II and I2 each of which is of channeled section having inturned lips l3. The telescoping elements II and [2 provide for adjustment of the length of the body H] for a purpose which will become apparent.

A sliding block I4 is adapted to be carried by I and guided for sliding movement by the body la. The block I4 is provided with a central projection l 5 slotted at opposite sides as at 16 to receive the lips or flanges l3, the width of each slot [6 bein approximately twice the thickness of each flange 13 so that the overlying flanges of both members or forming a part of the frame of a cleaning element [9. The cleaning element per se forms no part of the present invention and may beconstructed as desired. It is preferred that detachable means be employed for connecting the cleaning element to the block M to facilitate its easy removal so that it may be periodically removed to be rinsed, sprayed with a cleaning compound, etc. The slidable lips IS in the embodiment of the invention shown permit removal of the cleaning element by sliding it laterally relative to the body I0, the flanges l8 frictionally engaging the grooves ll to hold the cleaning element in position. Obviously this arrangement will positively prevent Vertical movement of the cleaning element I9 relative to the block l4 during vertical reciprocation of these elements. 1

The member I l is provided with anupper horizontally extending head 20 having a lowerintegral connecting portion 2| thus forming a tunnel 22 through which is slidable a flexible element 23, preferably in the form of a strap which may be made of leather, fabric or any other suitablematerial. The head 20 is provided with a depending wall 24 formed integral with the wall 25 and having its junction therewith slightly curved as at 25 to facilitate sliding movement of the strap 23 over the adjacent end of the Wall 2!. The opposite end of the wall 2| terminates in a downwardly curved extremity 25 for the same purpose. The top wall of the head 20 isprovided with an inner depending end 21 spaced from the extremity 26, as shown in Figure 3. In the operation of the device the strap 23 will extend at an angle from the extremity 26 to the lower edge of the extension 2! and thence outwardly at a slight'y increased angle as shown in Figures 1 and 3. To facilitate sliding movement of the strap over the lower end of the extension 2'1 the latter is curved as at 28.

The strap 23 extends through the head 20 as described and the end 24' of the strap (Figures 1 and 2) is free to be gripped by the operator for a purpose to be described. The opposite end of the strap may be suitably connected to the block I4. In the present instance the block is shown as having an upper slot 25' sawed or otherwise formed therein to receive adjacent end of the strap 23, and the end of the strap may extremity and the lower flexible element or strap 30 through which the cleaning element I9 is reciprocated. A horizontal cross member 3| spaced above the wall 21' forms the horizontal lower portion of the member I2 as a tube, and the wall 3| connects with a vertically extending wall 32 against which the strap 3!] slides. The junction between the walls 3| and 32 is slightly curved as at 33 to reduce the friction of the strap 30 sliding therearound and the upper extremity of the wall 32 is slightly curved as at 34 to prevent the strap 30 from engaging against the upper edge of the wall 32 during sliding movement of the strap.

The lower end of the block I4 is also provided with a strap-receiving slot 35 which may be sawed or otherwise formed in th block. The upper end of the strap 30 is received inthe slot 35 and secured therein by brads or other fastening elements 36. The lower end 37 of the strap 39 is adapted to be gripped by one hand of the operator to reciprocate the cleaning element '|9 as will be described.

The present device is particularly intended for use in cleaning the outside surfaces of the panes of vertically slidable sashes. Referring to Figure 2 the numeral 38 designates a conventional window construction of the type referred to having an inner and normally lower sash 39 provided with a glass pane 40, and an outer normally upper sash 4| having a glass pane 42. The sash 39 and 4| slide in the usual grooves 43, the usual separating strip 44 being arranged between these grooves as will be apparent.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The proper type of cleaning element I9 is selected in accordance with the method to be followed in cleaning the panes of glass. For example, a cleaning element padded and covered with toweling, cheese cloth or the like may be employed and will be the only cleaning element necessary if the window is to be sprayed with one of the available Window cleaning compounds.-

Assuming that this method of cleaning is to be followed, the operator will pull the sash 4| to its lowermost position shown in Figure 2 and will raise the sash 39 to a position wherein the top of the sash is spaced from the top of the window frame a distance sufficient to permit th operator to reach one arm through the window over the top of the sash 39 and spray the window cleaning compound over the outer surface of the pane 40. The length of the body I9 will then be adjusted approximately equal to the distance between the top of the sash 39 andthe top of the sash 4|, whereupon the head 20 will be held in the hand of the operator while the opposite end of the body I is projected through the space above the top of the sash 39, it being remembered that this sash will be somewhat lower than shown in Figure 2. This operation is performed with the pad l9 approximately in the position shown in Figure 2 in which case there will be a relatively short end of the strap 30 projecting from th bottom of the device. The inherent stiffness of the strap will be suflicient to cause it to extend inwardly at somewhat of an angle to the vertical and the operator may easily manipulate the device to insert the free end 31 of the strap in thespace between the sash 39 and sash 4| as represented by the thickness of the separating strip 44.

During the foregoing operation the body of the device will have been swung progressively downwardly and the lower extremity of the projection 28 will engage the top of the sash 4| or 'will be in close proximity thereto. By manipulation of the device and by pulling on the end 31 of the strap 30, the lower end of the body may be moved inwardly to a position in which the projection 28' is in the vertical plane of the separating strips 44. While holding the strap 30, the operator will now move the sash 39 to its uppermost position as shown in Figure 2. This elevation of the sash 39 will tend to bodily move the cleaning device upwardly, but by simultaneously pulling downwardly on the strap handl portion 31 with the wall 2| (Figure 3) resting on the top of the sash 39, the lower telescoping member |2 will be pulled downwardly to insert the projection 28 into the space between the bottom of the sash 39 and the top of the sash 4|, as shown in Figure 2. It will be noted that the length of the wall 2| (Figure 3) is approximately equal to the width of the top of the sash 39, there being limited clearance between the top of the sash 39 and the wall 24 and projection 21. Thus the top end of the device will be held sufilciently accurately in its proper position and the projection 28 serves the same purpose with respect to the lower end of the device. When the parts are in such position, the body ID will be vertically arranged approximately parallel to the pane 49.

The device is now ready for the cleaning operation. The device is preferably initially placed in position adjacent one vertical edge of the window to be cleaned. The two hands of the operator will grasp the respective strap ends 24' and 31 and will alternately pull the straps to cause the block I4 and cleaning element l9 to vertically reciprocate in contact with the window. While reciprocating the cleaning element the operator will retain both straps under some tension at all times and while the principal forces exerted will effect reciprocation of the cleaning element, there will be sufficient horizontal forces developed to hold the guide body I0 inwardly toward the window to maintain the proper degree of pressure of the cleaning element against the pane of glass;

After one strip of the window has been properly cleaned the operator may exert slight lateral force against the straps 23 and 30 by pulling these straps at somewhat of an angle to. the vertical. Such operation will cause the entire device to bodily move horizontally and thus place the cleaning element in a position to clean the next adjacent portion of the glass pane. This operation is repeated until the entire outer surface of the glass has been cleaned.

The operator may then pull the sash 39 downwardly and remove the device from position. The outer sash 4| will now be pushed upwardly to a point wherein its upper edge will be spaced a sufiicient distance from the top of the window frame to permit the projection of the device over the top of the sash 4| in the same manner as previously described. The device will be permitted to swing downwardly to a position with the projection 28' adjacent the outer face of the bottom of the sash 4| and the sash 4| will then be moved to its uppermost position. The sash 39 Will be positioned somewhat below a position opposite the sash 4| so that the strap 23 can extend downwardly and into the room at an angle over the top of the sash 39. The strap 3!} will similarly extend at somewhat of an' angle beneath the bottom of the sash 39.

The cleaning operation previously described in connection with the sash 3%} will be repeated with respect to the sash 4!. If a cleaning compound of the type referred to is to be employed, the outer surface of the glass 32 will be sprayed with the compound prior to the cleaning operation The cleaning may take place progressively across the window as described with relation to the sash 39, an angular pull on each of the straps being all that is necessary to cause the device to move horizontally to clean successive vertical spaces of the window pane.

As previously stated the cleaning element forms per so no part of the present invention. This cleaning element obviousl is detachable to permit the cleaning element itself to be washed or I otherwise cleaned, or is removable to permit the use of difierent cleaning elements according to the window cleaning method being used. For example, if soap and water or any other detergent is to be used which ordinarily is applied by a cloth, a soap padded cleaning element will first be used on each window to wash itlwith the detergent, after which the cleaning element may be removed and replaced by a suitable drying and polishing element. are used obviously must all have the same struc-- tural features to permit their attachment to and detachment from the block [4.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present device is a simple self-contained construction without expensive parts and that its inherent characteristics are such that it may be readily caused to move horizontally across a window pane to progressively clean it. It is unnecessary to use fastening elements of any kind to support the device in position, and it is unnecessary to employ any spring or lever means or other complicated or expensive devices for maintaining the cleaning element under uniform pressure against the window surfaces being cleaned. The same pulling forces which reciprocate the cleaning element are utilized to effect inward force to maintain the cleaning element under proper pressure against the window surface and the structure of the device is such that the cleaning element moves in a relatively accurate vertical plane. In this connection it will be apparent that the guide means for the cleaning element guides such element for movement parallel to the guiding means, while the structure of the body of the device is such that the guiding means is held parallel to the surface being cleaned. The surfaces against which the straps 23 and are slidable are smooth and the element of friction in operating the device is negligible.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims I claim:

1. A window sash cleaning device comprising a rigid elongated body adapted to assume a position adjacent and parallel to the outer surface of a sash pane at a substantial angle to the horizontaL a movable structure including a cleaning element carried and guided by said body, flex- Whatever cleaning elements i ible elements projecting from the top and bottom respectively of said movable structure and extending respectively over and beneath the sash to the inside of the building carrying the sash, and means adjacent opposite ends of said body forming guides through which the respective flexible elements extend, said body having an upper end portion engaging the top of the sash and constructed and arranged to adapt it for sliding movement perpendicular to the plane-of the sash, at least a portion of each guide being arranged substantially parallel to the pane whereby pulling forces on the ends of said flexible means will result in the application of forces to said body to press said cleaning element against the pane.

2. A window sash cleaning device comprising an elongated body adapted to assume a position adjacent and parallel to the outer surface of a sash pane at a substantial angle to the horizontal, a movable structure including a cleaning element carried and guided by said body, flexible elements projecting from the top and bottom respectively of said movable structure and extend- 7 ing respectively ove and beneath the sash to the inside of the building carrying the sash, and

means adjacent opposite ends of said body forming guides through which the respective flexible elements extend, at least a portion of each guide being arranged substantially parallel to the pane whereby pulling forces on the ends of said flexible means will result in the application of forces to said body to press said cleaning element against the pane, said body being formed of upper and lower slidably connected telescoping sections whereby it is extensible or contractible according to the height of the sash, said guides being carried by the respective body sections, the lower extremity of the lower telescoping section having a depending tab extending longitudinally therebeyond and offset therefrom toward the sash to be inserted between the bottom of a sash to be cleaned and the top of a lower sash to position said body.

3. A Window sash cleaning device comprising a rigid elongated body adapted to assume a position adjacent and parallel to the outer surface of a sash pane at a substantial angle to the horizontal, a cleaning element carried and guided by said body, flexible elements projecting from the top and bottom respectively of said cleaning element and adapted to extend respectively over and beneath the sash to the inside of the building carrying the sash, the upper end of said body adapted to extend laterally across the top of the sash and then downwardly to form a hook portion engageable with the top of the sash to support said body, said hook portion being of a width which adapts it to be used on a sash slightly less in thickness than the width of said hook portion whereby the upper end of said body is laterally movable relative to the sash, the lower end of said body so shaped as to adapt it to lie wholly outwardly of and to engage with the outer surface of the bottom element of the sash, the end portions of said body forming guides through which said flexible elements extend, said guides having portions extending parallel to the pane whereby pulling forces exerted on said flexible elements will be transmitted to said body to urge it inwardly and thus engage said cleaning element under pressure against the pane.

NELLIE E. MILLER. 

